High power lasers for fusion applications

The high power levels available with pulsed lasers and the high degree of coherence of laser radiation make it possible to achieve extremely high power densities over small volume. When focussed, such high power densities quickly convert their target into a plasma and under suitable conditions produce thermonuclear temperatures. This has led to the interesting possibility of using lasers to obtain fusion power. This paper discusses the laser parameters required to reach the break-even point and the lasers that may be used for this purpose. (author)